Fast and furious stuff as Forres take on the T20

THE GROUP stage of the T20 was held on Saturday with Forres hosting Nairn and Elgin at the Grant Park. It was a day of some fast and furious cricket with Forres easing past their local rivals to take part in the finals this Sunday.

The first game saw Forres take on Nairn. After winning the toss Forres opted to bat first and racked up a very healthy 225 for the loss of only one wicket. Steve Ryder was the unlucky batsman, out for eight after guiding the ball to deep gully off the bowling of Gerring in the third over. Pal Dhami and Gus Farr took control for the home side as the bowlers were peppered to all parts of the field and by the time the 20 overs were used up, 225 was on the board, a total Nairn were unlikely to threaten. Dhami finished with 92 and Farr 90, both not out.

In reply Nairn were helped by some wayward bowling to start off with but once the bowlers got their line and length sorted out wickets started to fall. Fraser Merricks and Gus Farr struck early, Merricks removing the only batsman likely to pose a threat when he had Dave Wolton caught at mid on for only 12. Steven Neill blasted 21 but was caught on the long on boundary off Steve Barron’s bowling and Nairn stumbled on to finish with 106 after their 20 overs. Barron took three for 17 whilst Merricks and Lamb chipped in with 2 wickets each.

The second game featured Nairn and Elgin with Nairn running out winners there so Forres needed to beat Elgin to ensure they went through.

Elgin chose to bat first in the third match. By now the Forres bowlers were on song and they made short work of the Elgin batting line up. Merricks ripped through the first three for only 12 runs and only Elgin skipper Thomas Cameron struck out to make an innings. Eventually he was removed for 26, caught on the deep mid wicket boundary by Gus Farr off David Durance’s bowling. Callum Hawkins put up some resistance but he wasn’t making any runs and when Rowand was trapped LBW by McGrath in the 19th over, Elgin were all out for 67.

As the weather threatened to spoil things, the Forres batsmen got on with it. In a blast from the past, Steve Barron and Neil McGrath were sent out to open for Forres. It took only seven overs to reach the required total as the Forres ‘golden oldies’ punched the ball around the field. The only slip up was when Barron was bowled by Trulock for 28, leaving Al Farr to come in at three, but McGrath played the winning shot to take Forres into the finals just as the rain arrived. McGrath finished with an unbeaten 32.

This Saturday Forres will be in Inverness where they take on Highland in the League.